Lobster-claw lock



Nov. 29, 1938. BARWOOD 2,138,651

LOBSTER-CLAW LOCK Filed Jan. 25, 1936 sheets-sheet 1 Mew/ r. z. @BurwoodNov. 29, 1938. L. J. BARwooD 2,138,65

LOBSTER-CLAW LOCK Filed Jan. 25, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 29,1938 lUNITED STATES i man PATENT OFFICE 18 Claims.

The present invention relates to claw locks, and more particularly tolobster-claw locks.

According to the invention disclosed in Letters Patent of the UnitedStates, 1,997,711, granted April 16, 1935, a very eicient lobster-clawlock is provided that holds the claws against substantial openingmovement and that can not accidentally slip off the claws so as to'unlock them.

An object of the present invention is to provide a elawlock of theabove-described character that shall be simpler in construction andcheaper to manufacture, and in which slipping of the lock from off theclaws will be effected in a different manner.

Other and further objects will be explained in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a view in` elevation, partlyin longitudinal section, of a lobster leg, with the claws thereof lockedby a claw lock according to a'preferred embodiment of the presentinvention; Fig. 2 is a perspective of a modified claw lock, beforeattachment to the lobster claws; Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the same;Figs. 4 and 5 are sections taken upon the lines 4 4 and 5 5,respectively, of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 6is a section taken upon the line 6 6 of Fig. 1, looking in thedirections of the arrows; Figs. 7.and 8 are elevations similar to Fig. 1of modifications; Figs. 9 and 10 are sections taken upon thelines 9 9and Ill-I0, respectively, of Fig. 8, looking in the direction of thearrows; and FigQll is an elevation of the lobster-claw lock shown inFig. 1.

The novel lock of the present invention may comprise a piece offlat,.sheetmetal stock, like aluminum, bent into the form vof one ormore U-shaped portions, thus'producing a non-planar surface. Thesheet-metal member is shown comprising two U-shaped portions in Figs. 1to 7 and l1, and but a single U-shaped portion in Figs. 8

to 10. One of the Us comprises arms 6 and I0 having oppositely disposedsubstantially flat sides, merging in a neck 8. The other U comprisesarms 22 and 24 having oppositely disposed, substantially flat, sidesmerging in a neck 4. The arms 6 and 22 are connected together at theirfree ends 'I and the arms I0 and 24 at their free ends 9. Th-e arms 6,ID, 22 and 24 may be of substantial extent, so as to bear anadvertising, or other designating, legend. The claw I2 and part of theclaw I8 of the lobster leg I4 are adapted to be received between thearms 6 and I0 and 22 and 24.

The necks 4 and 8 are each preferably provided with a depression, shownsymmetrically disposed in Figs. 1 to 7 and 11 at II and I3,respectively, and eccentrically disposed at I5, in Figs. 8 and 10. Thedepressions are preferably bent out of the sheet metal at the neck ofthe U-shaped portions in such fashion as to produce substantiallytorusshaped curves. The depression I I, for example, is bent from onebounding edge Il to the opposite bounding edge I9 of the neck 4, so thatthe bounding edges Il and I9 of the neck stand out, to one side of thewall of thed-epression II, with these bounding edges extendingsubstantially at right angles to the outer edge 46 of the claw I2. Thedepression I3 is similarly provided with similar bounding edges 2| and23 and the depression I5 with similar bounding edges 25 and 27. Thebounding edges I'I and I9 of the walls of the depression II and thebounding edges 2| and 23 of the walls of the depression I3 are adaptedto engage and bite against the lower or outer edge 46 of the claw I2 ofthe lobster leg I4 when the said claw is mounted in the U-shaped memberor members, as illustrated more particularly in section by Fig. 1. Bythus biting into the edge 46 of the claw I2, thesebounding edges resistthe tendency of the U-shaped members to change their position on theclaws of the lobster leg after the lock has become secured thereto. Thebounding edges 25 and 2l of th-e depression I5 perform a similarfunction. The depressions, furthermore, perform a further function inthat the neck 4 or 8 of the U-shaped member or members may be positionedcontiguous or adjacent to or on the claw I2 in such manner that one ofthe depressions shall receive a projection or jag 29 that is usuallyintegral with the lower part of the claw I2, and to one side of, oreccentric with respect to, the said outer or lower edge 46 of the clawI2. When the lock is secured to the claws of the lobster leg, therefore,as hereinafter described, it will further be prevented from slipping byengagement of the projection 29 with the walls of the depression I3 orI5. The eccentric arrangement of the depression I5 corresponds to theeccentricarrangement ofthe projection 29, so that slipping of the lockmay be prevented in all directions; but though the depression I3 iswider than the depression I5, so that, theoretically, there is possiblea greater range of slipping movement in a right-and-left direction, asviewed in Figs. 3 and 6, in practice, the lock is secured rig- Iidlyenough to prevent such right-and-left movement, and all that isnecessary to be guarded against is a movement in a direction at rightangles thereto, or to the left, as viewed in Figs. 1, 7 and 8. Theeccentric arrangement, 'illustrated in Figs. 8 and 10, is moreparticularly useful when the claw lock comprises only a single U-shapedportion; when it comprises two U- shaped portions, as illustrated inFigs. l to '7 and l1, it is more convenient to use the wider depressionsIl and I3, as this makes it possible to enclose the integral projection29 of the claw I6 in either the depression II or the depression I3,Without the operator taking special pains to make sure that he ismounting the projection 29 in the proper depression II or I3, as thecase may be, thus economizing in time.

The lock may be secured to the claws of the lobster leg, with the clawI2 mounted in the said Ll-shaped portion or portions, and the projection2S in the proper depression II, I3 or I5,V in any desired way. Asillustrated in Figs. 1 and 6 to 1.1., for example, the arms of theU-shaped portion or portions may each be provided at their ree ends witha preferably integral or continuous extension, which may be originallyflat, in the form of a strap, but which may be longitudinally rolled orotherwise formed into substantially tubular or partly tubular form, asshown at 33 and The tubular or semi-tubular members 33 and 35 mayreceive between them the claw I8 of the lobster leg I4, after which theyare passed over the convex, upper, outer edge of the claw l, and theirends are then twisted together against the said upper, outer edge, asshown at 31. The claws I2 and I8 become thus encircled and locked, asillustrated, with the claw I2 mounted in the U-shaped portion orportions, and the bounding edges I'I, I9, 2Iand 23 or 25 and 21 bitinginto the edge 45 of the claw I2, and with the claw I8 between theconnecting portions 'i and 3 and the tubular or semi-tubular members 33and 35.

If desired, a wire or wires 44 may be rolled into the tubular orsemi-tubular members 33 and and fastened therein in any desired manner.As illustrated in Figs. 2 to 5, this may be effected by providing theends of the wire or wires 44 with hooks 39 engaging against the lowerportions of the tubular or semi-tubular members 33 and 35; orintermediate portions of the tubular or semitubular members may beswaged into locking engagement with the wire or wires 44, as shown at 4Ior both eXpedients or any other desired expedient may be adapted.Whether a single wire 44 is employed, as illustrated in Fig. 2, orseparate wires, the lock may be secured to the claws of the lobster legby twisting, as shown at 31, or in any other desired manner.

When the lock is thus secured to the claws I2 and I8, with Athe outeredge 46 of the claw I2 engaged against the said boundingedges of thedepression I5 or the depressions II and I3, it is impossible for thelock to slip off the lobster leg, particularly because of thebefore-described engagement of the walls of the depression I3 or I5against the claw projection 29. In the case of the modification shown inFigs.l 8 to 10, though displacement of the lock in the neighborhood ofthe projection 29 is thus prevented, one must rely upon the bindingaction of the twist 31 alone to prevent displacement or slipping of thelock at a region or regions other than the region of the depression I5.It is, of course, possible to make the twist 31 very, very tight, so asto lock the claws very tightly together, as illustrated in Figs. 1, '7and 8; but there are at least three objections to this procedure. In thefirst place, the shell of the claw is sometimes soft, so that it mightbecome damaged by too much strain at the placement.

twist 31. Secondly, it is desirable not to make the twist too tight, soas to permit some slight relative movement or breathing of the jaws I2and I8. It is preferred to lock the claws together in such fashion as topermit a certain amount of back-and-forth movement of the claws.Thirdly, no matter how tightly the lock of Figs. 8 to 10 is secured tothe lobster leg, it may, slooner or later, become loosened by reason ofthe rubbing against one another of the lobsters during their continualfiighting 'with one another,

The lock illustrated in Figs. 1 to 7 and 11 is preferred, therefore,because the bounding edges I1 and I9 of the depression II, being spacedfrom the bounding edges 2I and 23 of the depression I3, provide anadditional point or region, at a distance removedfrom the region nearthe projection 29, at which displacement of the lock is also prevented,besides serving as an additional check against too free swingingmovement of the lower jaw I2 about its pivot. There thus being provideda three-point support for the lock, instead of only the two-pointsupport of Figs'. 8 to 10, the lock is more solidly secured against dis-I't is not so easy for the twist 31 to slip or slide along the outeredge 45 of the jaw I3, toward its free end or tip 20, when thisthreepoint support is provided as when only the twopoint support isemployed, for the outer edge 45 of the claw I2 is engaged by spacedpoints or regions to resist such slipping. Any such sliding tendency isresisted by the edges I 1 and I9 of the depression II biting into theouter edge 46 of the claw I2.

The lock illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6 and llis so designed as to engagethe outer edge 46 of the jaw I2 at regions near the extreme right-handend, near the projection or jag 29, as viewed in Fig. l, and at aboutthe middle of the jaw. The location of the last-named region may,however, be farther to the left, as viewed in Fig. 7, nearer the end i6of the jaw I2, so as to provide a better control and a larger amount ofpermissible backand-forth movement of the claws I2 and I8 in the lock.All that is necessary, to this end, is to provide longer, but suitablyshaped, arms 22 and 24, extending from the arms 6 and I0 at a widerangle. Itis thus possible to eliminate all tendency for the twist 31 toslide down toward the end 2U of the claw I8. With proper adjustment,there will be no possibility of the lock slipping 01T the claws in adirection toward the left, as Viewed in Fig. 1. In this Fig 7,furthermore, the arms 6 and I0 are shown in a straight line with theconnecting portions 1 and 9 and with the extensions 33, merely toillustrate that the relative shapes shown in Figs. 1 to 6 and 11 areillustrative only, and that other shapes may be employed.

It is possible to adjust the positions at which the necks 4 and 8 engagethe outer edge 46 'of the claw I2; and it is also possible to adjust theposition at which the twisted portion 31 is disposed along the outeredge 45 of the claw I8. 'I'he ad. justment of the U-shaped members willbe such that the lock shall automatically assume the most favorableposition for locking the lobster claws securely.

The lock of the present invention is very simple in construction, andcheap, being constituted of but a single pieceV of sheet metal, bentinto U shape, without the necessity of using any additional rivets. Astandard size and shape of lock' will be found adapted to all ordinarysizes and shapes of lobster claws, the bounding walls of vso thedepressions engaging against the wall 46 of the 'claw l2' at differentpoint, depending upon the adjustment. There is a minimum of discomfortto the-lobsters, without injuring any of the meat, while, at the sametime, absolutely assuring that the claws shall always be locked.

' Further" modifications will occur to persons skilled inthe art, andall such are considered to fall within the spirit and scope of theinvention, as defined in the appended claims.

' What is claimed is:

l. A claw lock for use with a claw having an integral projection, thelock comprising a member having a depression for receiving theprojection,and means for securing the lock to the claw with theprojection in the depression, the walls of the depression being adaptedto engage the projection to prevent displacement of the lock in theneighborhood of the projection.

2. A lobster-claw lock for locking the claws of a lobster leg. one ofthe claws having an integral projection, the lock comprising asheet-metal member having a depression bent out therefrom forreceivingthe projection, and means for securing the lock to the claws of thelobster leg with the projection in the depression, the walls of thedepression being adapted to engage the projection to preventdisplacement of the lock in the neighborhood of the projection.

'3. A lobster-claw lock for locking the claws of a lobster leg, one ofthe claws of which has an integral projection, the lock comprising a U-shaped, sheet-metalV member in which the said claw is adapted to bemounted, the member having a depression bent out therefrom for receivingthe projection, and means. connected with the member and adapted toengage the other claw of the lobster leg for securing the lock to theclaws of the lobster leg with the projection in the depression, thewalls of the dep-ressicn being adapted to engage the projection toprevent displacement of the member in the neighborhood of theprojection.

4. A lobster-claw lock for locking the claws of a lobster le-g, one ofthe claws of which has an integral projection, the lock comprising a U-shaped, sheet-metal member in which the said claw is adapted to bemounted, the member having a depression bent out therefrom for receivingthe projection, and means connected with the member and adapted toengage the other claw of the lobster leg for securing the lock to theclaws cf the lobster leg with the projection in the depression, thewalls of the depression being adapted to engage the projection toprevent displacement of the member in the neighborhood of theprojection, and the sheet-metal member having a wall of substantialextent for bearing a designating legend.

5. A lobster-claw lock for locking the claws of a lobster leg, one ofthe clawsI of which has an integral projection near its outer edge, thelock comprising a U-shaped, sheet-metal member in which the said claw isadapted to be mounted, the neck ci the U being substantiallytorus-shaped to provide a depression for receiving the projection, andmeans connected with the free endsI of the arms of the U and adapted toengage the outer edge of the other claw of the lob-ster leg for securingthe lock to the claws of the lobster leg with the projection in thedepression, the walls of the depression being adapted to engage theprojection to prevent displacement of' the member in the neighborhood ofthe projection.

6. A lobster-claw lock for locking the claws of a lobster leg, one ofthe claws of which hasan integral projection eccentrically disposed nearits outer edge, the lock comprising a. U-shaped, sheetmetal member inwhich the said claw is adapted to be mounted, the neck of the U having acorresponding, eccentrically disposed depression bent out therefrom forreceiving the projection, and means connected with the free endsy of thearms of the U and adapted to engage the outer edge of the other claw ofthe lobster leg for securing the lock to the claws of the lobster legwith the projection in the depression, the walls of the depression beingadapted to engage the projection to prevent displacement of the memberin the neighborhood of the projection.

7. A lobster-claw lock for locking the claws: of a lobster leg, one ofthe claws or which has an integral projection near its' outer edge, thelock comprising a U-shaped, sheet-metal memberin which the said claw isadapted to be mounted, the neck ofthe U having a depression bent outthere-V from for receiving the projection, and a wire or wires connectedwith the free ends of the U and adapted to engage the other claw of thelobster leg for securing the lock tothe claws of the lobster leg withthe projection in the depression, the walls of the depression beingadapted to engage the projection to prevent displacement of the memberin the neighborhood of the projection.` 1

8. A lobster-claw lock for `locking the claws of a lobster legcomprising a one-piece, sheetmetal member having a portion adjacent towhich one of the claws of the lobster leg is adapted to be mounted andhaving two arms adapted to engage the other claw of the lobster leg tosecure the lock to the claws of the lobster leg, the said arms beinglongitudinally tubular,-

9. A lobster-claw lock for locking the claws of a lobster leg, one ofthe claws of which has an integral projection, the lock comprising amember in which the said claw is adapted to be mounted and against whichthe outer edge of the said claw is adapted to engage, the member havinga depression bent out therefrom for receiving the projection, meansconnected with theymember andI adapted to engage the outer edge of theother claw of the lobster leg for securing the lock to the claws of thelobster leg with the projection in the depression, the walls of thedepression being adapted to engage the projection to preventdisplacement of the member in the neighborhood of the projection, andmeans for preventing displacement of the lock at a. point removed fromthe projection.

10. A claw lock comprising a member having a depression bent outtherefrom from one edge to the opposite edge of the member so that theedges stand out to one side of the wall of the depression, and means forsecuring the lock to the claw with the said edges biting against theclaw.

11. A lobster-claw lock for locking the claws of a lobster leg, the lockcomprising a sheet-metal member having portions adapted to engage spacedportions of the outer edge of lone of the claws, one of the portionshaving a depression bent out therefrom, and means connected with themember for engaging the outer edge of the other claw of the lobster legto secure the lock to the claws of the lobster leg.

12. A lobster-claw lock for locking the claws of a lobster legcomprising a member having two U-shaped portions in which one of theclaws is adapted to be mounted, the neck of each U- shaped portion beingsubstantially torus-shaped.

and means connected with the member and adapted to engage the outer edgeof the other claw of the lobster leg for securing the lock to the clawsof the lobster leg with the edges of the torus-shaped portions bitingagainst the said one claw.

13. A lobster-claw lock for locking the claws of a lobster legcomprising a member having a portion adjacent to which one of the clawsof the lobster leg is adapted to be mounted and having two arms adaptedto engage the other claw of the lobster leg to secure the lock to theclawsI of the lobster leg, the said arms being longitudinally tubular,and the said arms having a wire or wires fastened in the tubular orpartly tubular portions thereof. 1

14. A lobster-claw lock for locking the claws of a lobster leg, one ofthe claws of which has an integral projection, the lock comprising amember having two U-shaped portions in which the said claw is adapted tobe mounted and against which the outer edge of the said claw is adaptedto engage, one of the Ushaped portions having a depression bent outtherefrom for receiving the projection, and means connected with themember and adapted to engage the outer edge of the other claw of thelobster leg for securing the lock to the claws of the lobster leg withthe projection in the depression, the walls of the depression beingadapted to engage the projection to prevent displacement of the memberin the neighborhood of the projection, the other U- shaped portion beingadapted toprevent displacement of the lock at a point removed from theprojection.

15. A lobster-claw lock for locking the claws of a lobster leg, one ofthe claws of which has an integral projection, the lock comprising asheet-metal member having two U-shaped por- I tions in which the saidclaw is adapted to be mounted, the neck of each U-shaped Vportion havinga depression bent outward from one edge to the opposite edge of thecorresponding neck so that the edges of the necks are adapted to engageand bite against the outer edge of the said claw, corresponding arms ofthe Us being connected together, and means connected with the member andadapted to engage the outer edge of the other claw of the lobster legfor securing the lock to the claws of the lobster leg with theprojection in one of the depressions, the walls of the said onedepression being adapted to engage the projection to preventdisplacement of the member in the neighborhood of the projection.

16. A lobster-claw lock for locking the claws of a lobster leg, one ofthe claws of which has an integral projection, the lock having meansforl engaging the outer edges of the claws at three regions considerablyspaced from each other to lock the claws against substantial openingmovement and having means for cooperating with the projection to preventthe lock from becoming displaced from the claws, one of the regionsbeing near the point of pivotal connection of the claws, and anotherregion being disposed in advance of the portion of the claw providedwith the projection.

17. A lobster-claw lock for locking the claws of a lobster leg, the lockhaving means for engaging the outer edge of one of the claws at tworegions at least one of which is at a distance from the point of pivotalconnection of the claws equal to about half the length of one of theclaws, and the lock having also means for engaging the outer` edge ofthe other claw, the engaging means cooperating to lock the claws againstsubstantial opening movement.

18. A lobster-claw lock for locking the claws of a lobster legcomprising a U-shaped member in which one of the claws of the lobsterleg is adapted to be mounted with a portion of the member engaging aregion of an outer edge of the said claw, means connected with themember and adapted to engage a region of the outer edge of the otherclaw of the lobster leg for securing the lock to the claws of thelobster leg, and means for engaging a further region of one of the saidouter edges at a distance about half the length of one of the claws.

LEON J. BARWOOD.

